Add Cleopatra to the list of subjects that are being developed by multiple producers at once. A new biography of Cleopatra, by Stacy Schiff, is about to be published, and Michael Pietsch of Little, Brown says that Scott Rudin has picked up the rights to the book (he actually bought the rights years ago, before the book was even written) and is working with Angelina Jolie to develop a movie from the material. Right now, the idea is that Jolie would play Cleopatra, as if that needs to be explained.

Note that this isn’t Cleo, Steven Soderbergh‘s proposed 3D musical about Cleopatra with music by Robert Pollard and Guided by Voices. Totally different projects. Soderbergh’s is basically backburnered, as he put it off when Moneyball fell into his lap and hasn’t come back into the frame in the wake of his ouster from the baseball picture. Doubt anyone will be surprised when I say I still really hope Soderbergh somehow makes his first, as unlikely as that is. [USA Today]

After the break, more casting for Dexter, Knights of Badassdom and The Walking Dead. Read More »